TUDCA and Lyme Disease: The Lymphatic Connection

Article Summary

TUDCA, or “Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid”, has emerged as a popular substance in the world of health and fitness for treating liver-based problems and repairing damaged cells.

TUDCA is a water-soluble bile acid that can counteract the toxicity of regular bile acid, cleanse the liver, and protect cells throughout the body. Thanks to its cellular-defense properties, it may also contribute to the function of the lymphatic system.

The liver and lymphatic system often work together in keeping the body clear of disease, toxins, and infection. Without the right cleansing facilities in place, the immune system cannot work properly to fight back against issues like Lyme and other in other chronic diseases.

It is essential to have a healthy lymphatic system and liver as a foundation for good health. TUDCA can help to improve the function of your liver, repair cells, and give you the tools you need to prevent the appearance of Lyme symptoms.

Additionally, since Lyme can hide within lymph nodes, properly cleaning the lymph nodes and supporting lymphatic function can help to reduce your chances of suffering from chronic Lyme disease.

Cleaning the lymphatic system is crucial to supporting the body during the treatment of Lyme, and TUDCA is one of the many supplements that can help to support proper cell function, alongside vitamin D3, B-6, magnesium, and a host of other substances.

Could TUDCA Help with Lyme Disease?

TUDCA, otherwise known as Tauroursodeoxycholic acid, has been around for a long time, but it’s only recently begun to find its popularity. As a water-soluble bile acid, this substance has shown significant potency in treating issues with bile backup in the liver. It also can counteract the toxicity of typical bile acids, rehabilitate the liver after exposure to dangerous chemicals, and generally defend cells.

The reason that TUDCA has been so popular among bodybuilders is that it helps to protect and repair the liver after it has been exposed to the damaging impact of anabolic steroids. TUDCA is not just designed for people who are focused on building bigger muscles. The truth is that this substance, at its core, is a beneficial organ cleanser that can assist the liver, and lymphatic system when it comes to keeping the body in good health.

It is important to note that TUDCA could be beneficial in treating other conditions that have an impact on the lymphatic system and liver – such as Lyme disease. After all, if this substance can help to cleanse and detoxify the system, it may also be able to help with the symptoms of Lyme disease and even reduce a person’s chances of suffering from chronic infections.

How TUDCA Helps the Liver

As mentioned above, TUDCA is a water-soluble bile acid that can be found naturally occurring within the human body. It is renowned as one of the most powerful liver-protection substances on the market and has a fantastic ability to counteract the toxicity of regular bile acids while cleansing the liver and protecting lymphatic cells.

There is some evidence that TUDCA can be beneficial for other areas throughout the body in addition to the liver. For instance, it may be able to reduce stress within a cell’s Endoplasmic Reticulum, helping with insulin resistance and diabetes. However, liver cleansing and protection are considered to be its primary benefits. These advantages are seen most prominently in people who have already experienced liver damage as a result of steroid use, alcoholism, improper diet, and high cholesterol.

Though research into TUDCA is still being conducted, there is plenty of evidence that indicates its potency as a liver-protecting agent. For instance, in 2010, a study from Spain published within “Cell Death and Disease” evaluated the effects of TUDCA in patients with partial liver removals and non-steatonic livers. Since it is common for both steatonic and non-steatonic livers to experience slow recovery following a partial liver removal, scientists found that TUDCA has the potential to protect the organs from regeneration failure and further injury. The effect is linked to the minimization of stress on the endoplasmic reticulum within the liver.

Another double-blind study published in 2013 in the Journal of Huazhong Science and Technology examined the efficiency of TUDCA in the treatment of scarring or fibrosis within the liver. They found that the substance was more effective and safer than pharmaceutical UDCA when it came to treating cirrhosis.

It’s clear that TUDCA can have a valuable part to play in protecting and repairing the liver and the surrounding lymphatic systems of the body. However, what we need to further examine is how these effects can be related to Lyme disease, and how the roles that lymph nodes and the liver play in overall health, and Lyme disease recovery.

The Importance of the Liver

The liver is the organ responsible for detoxifying the body. It works through a two-phase process that requires specific minerals, vitamins, phytochemicals, and amino acids, alongside the support of the lymphatic system for removing toxins.

During the first phase of detoxification, toxins are neutralized and released into bile or made water-soluble so that they can be carried by the lymph nodes, and excreted through the kidneys via urine. In some cases, the toxins may be converted into more chemically-active substances known as active intermediaries, which are more toxic than their original substance, and potentially very damaging if not eliminated immediately.

Those toxins are then converted a second time where they are combined with biochemical and amino acids that are water-soluble. Those toxins are then cleared up by the lymphatic system, which is responsible for disposing of the waste left behind by the other bodily organs.

The second stage of detoxification takes place around a process known as “conjugation”, during which toxic substance bind with other substances before being eliminated safely through the bladder and kidneys. This process can be used to detoxify drugs, toxins, and other harmful substances. It also removes estrogen and thyroid hormones so they don’t overload the body. When the system is exposed to too many chemicals, such as in the use of anabolic steroids, it becomes more difficult for the liver to neutralize the substances, meaning that the lymphatic system can’t extract them from the body.

As you can see, the liver and the lymphatic system work together to keep your internal system clean, healthy and performing at its best. If the liver, bile ducts, and lymphatic system become clogged up, then you cannot remove dangerous substances from your body, which means that toxins, invaders, and other dangerous elements are allowed to build up, leading to chronic illness and disease.

Taking care of your Liver and Lymphatic System

Caring for your liver and lymphatic system is an important step towards achieving overall good health, and reducing your risk of chronic health issues. Without a healthy liver and lymphatic system, it can be impossible for your immune system to work properly in protecting you from the symptoms of Lyme disease, and other chronic issues.

The lymphatic system is an interconnected network of organs and tissues that help to rid the body of waste and toxins. The primary function of this system is to transport lymph, a fluid that contains infection-fighting blood cells around the body.

It might be easier to think of the lymphatic system as the body’s drainage system, as it works alongside other organs like your liver to clean up and dispose of waste that is left around within your body. A healthy lymphatic system also:

Drains fluid back into the bloodstream to avoid excess swelling and inflammation.

Filters lymph nodes to limit the way toxins spread in the body

Filters the blood, removing old cells and replacing them with new ones

Removes impurities from the body, using the liver and bladder to cleanse the system of unwanted substances, while maintaining useful substances like nutrients and vitamins

Fights infection with the use of special white blood cells that produce antibodies – responsible for fighting back against disease.

Keeping your liver and lymphatic system healthy is all about exposing your body to the right substances. Just as TUDCA can help to clean and improve the function of your liver, drinking plenty of water helps your organs to function properly, and a diet rich in vegetables and alkaline foods gives your system the nutrients it needs to thrive.

Other ways to boost your lymphatic system include:

Learning how to manage stress: Stress can have a negative impact on the entire body, including your lymphatic system. Learning how to manage your emotions through meditation, yoga, and exercise can help promote wellness.

Avoiding pollutants and harmful substances: Avoiding pollutants and harmful substances can help to reduce the amount of work your lymphatic system has to do.

A Damaged Liver and Lymphatic System and the Effects on Lyme Disease

So how does a damaged liver and lymphatic system effect Lyme disease?

Simply put, if your body can’t drain toxins from your system properly, then your immune system becomes impaired. Lyme disease is primarily caused by the bacteria “Borrelia burgdoferi”, which is transmitted through ticks and insects, and can cause symptoms that affect everything from the heart, to the skin, joints, and nervous system.

Of course, just because Lyme disease is triggered by an acute infection, many experts believe that the real cause of Lyme disease links back to weakened immunity, inhibited cellular function and protection, systematic bacterial infections, and environmental factors.

TUDCA can promote good cellular function and protect the liver, reducing your chances of suffering from an impaired immune system. In other words, TUDCA could be beneficial not only for those suffering from Lyme disease but those who want to prevent the presence of symptoms of chronic illness in the first place.

The reason that we say “prevent symptoms” rather than “prevent the disease”, is that some medical experts believe hundreds of thousands of people are currently suffering from Lyme disease, but have no idea that they require treatment. Research from the Columbia University Medical Center indicates that not everyone who tests positively for Lyme disease will show symptoms.

How is this possible? The answer may simply be that everyone hosts a range of different parasitic infections, viruses, bacteria, and fungus in their body – but the way that your body reacts to those substances depends on your immune system, genetics, environment and many other factors.

The Importance of Cleansing the Lymphatic System with Lyme Disease

Since a healthy liver and improved cellular function caused by TUDCA can help your lymphatic system to work more effectively, it can help you to fight back against Lyme disease in a number of different ways. We’ve noted above how TUDCA can indirectly boost the immune system, lowering your chances of falling victim to the symptoms of Lyme in the first place.

As an autoimmune and neurological disease, chronic Lyme disease has been linked to a clogged lymphatic system. Because the bacteria, or “spirochetes” of Lyme disease can hide on the nodes of its host, Lyme disease can easily lay dormant within the body, antagonizing the system and weakening it until it eventually begins to deteriorate. As a result of this, swollen lymph nodes represent one of the most common symptoms of chronic Lyme disease, alongside other concerns such as:

This is why, when treating Lyme, it may be more important than most people realize to consider the benefits of supplements like TUDCA, and address the needs of the lymphatic system – doing everything that is possible to support it. Essentially, if the function of the lymphatic and immune system become strong enough, then the body may be able to access the resources that it needs to rid itself of the infection more completely.

This approach to Lyme disease treatment is highly supported throughout the medical communitys. Many experts suggest using supplements to help improve organ and cellular function within the body, so as to improve the strength of your natural defenses. After all, Borrelia Burgdoferi bacteria can damage healthy cells, and restoring cellular health is crucial to wellness.

TUDCA, as a cellular-protecting substance, can be an important step in a comprehensive and natural treatment plan for dealing with Lyme disease. Additionally, other beneficial supplements might include:

CoQ10: This helps to protect the nervous system and brain from inflammation and degradation, lowering symptoms like aches and joint pains. It is commonly used by people with autoimmune disorder symptoms.

Vitamin D: Vitamin D3 is perfect for boosting immunity and regulating inflammation too. If you are vitamin D deficient, as most people in the world today are, it’s important to make sure that you get plenty of this substance into your system.

B-Complex: B vitamins support many different cellular and metabolic functions while helping to improve neurological health and fight off infection. Vitamin B-6 is particularly crucial for Lyme patients, or those dealing with fatigue and stress.

Magnesium: Magnesium is an electrolyte that plays many important roles within the human body, supporting nerve signaling and reducing muscular ache. Most people are magnesium deficient, and people fighting Lyme disease are generally in great need of magnesium.

Omega-3 fatty acids: These acids are useful for supporting cognitive and neurological functions, as well as reducing inflammation. You can find natural sources of omega 3 in fish oil, seeds, and nuts.

Probiotics: As well as consuming plenty of probiotic-rich food to help balance your internal system after or during a bout of Lyme disease, it can also be useful to take probiotic supplements too. This is one of the best things you can do to destroy Lyme.

TUDCA and Lyme Disease

Though further research and evaluation is needed to fully understand the benefits of TUDCA in relation to Lyme disease and similar issues, we hope that this guide into the benefits that TUDCA may be able to offer to Lyme Disease sufferers has helped you to see the value of the supplement, and what the liver and lymphatic system have to do with Lyme treatment.

The lymphatic system is truly the foundation for our health from the inside out, dealing with everything from fluid retention, digestion, blood purification, and immune system response. With that in mind, it only makes sense to find useful ways of supporting it during the treatment of Lyme.

Dr. Jay…. Took 1st TUDCA 100 mg. yesterday. Had an awful night of bad dreams, thirst, up to pee 4 times and severe anxiety. The other thing I did that was different was take 5htp at bedtime for the 1st time. Any idea what happened? Ellen

How does TUDCA affect Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia? The article states “Fights infection with the use of special white blood cells that produce antibodies – responsible for fighting back against disease”. I am concerned because CLL is an accumulation of white blood cells that never die off and becomes a progressive disease. I can see how cleansing the liver, lymphatic system and spleen can be beneficial to CLL. I am seeking a natural approach to reversing CLL altogether. Any insight on treatment would be greatly appreciated as it is not a common topic and info is difficult to find and very limited in content. Thank you.

Just wondering if you found the research you were looking for on this? My 4 yr old was just diagnosed with Lymphoma.. and I would love to know if tudca would be okay to begin for him (he is doing traditional treatment also). Jthurow22@yahoo.com
Thank you for any and all information!

Dr Jay, I am taking the Tudca you recommend. I’ve been taking it x 2 1/2 mo. In the first month and a half I had quite a lot of post nasal drainage. I’ve never had that before. I’m taking it for increased bile flow. I take I cap twice a day. How long should I take it? Thanks for doing all your webinars and summits. All that information helps to get myself well.